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Do Not Cross The River

Korea's Oldest Song Brought Back To Life

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One of the oldest songs ever recorded in Korea came from a wife standing on the bank of a river. We don't know her name. We don't know her village. But through her voice, we know her sorrow. Imagine her there: pleading, crying, warning her husband not to cross. He does not listen. He crossesโ€”and he drowns.

We brought Korea's oldest song, Gongmudohaga, back to life with Suno AI. The original voice is long gone, but its sorrow, beauty, and longing live on in this song.

Original Lyrics

Do not cross the river, Please, my love, please stay. (ๅ…ฌ็„กๆธกๆฒณ) But you would not listen, And drifted far away. (ๅ…ฌ็ซŸๆธกๆฒณ) Now you are goneโ€” Lost beneath the stream. (ๅขฎๆฒณ่€Œๆญป) My joy has vanished; Alas, what shall I do? (็•ถๅฅˆๅ…ฌไฝ•)

New Lyrics

Do not cross the river, Please, my love, please stay. The wind was cold and bitter, Yet you walked away. I called your name, but silence fell, The water took you in its spell. My hands reached out, but only air, And now youโ€™re goneโ€”forever, nowhere. Do not cross the river, Please, my love, please stay. But you would not listen, And drifted far away. Now you are goneโ€” Lost beneath the stream. My joy has vanished; Alas, what shall I do? Shadows on the water, Echoes on the shore. Every step I wander, I canโ€™t find you anymore. Your laughter fades like twilightโ€™s song, The night feels empty, dark, and long. If I could turn the riverโ€™s tide, Iโ€™d hold you close, back by my side. Do not cross the river, Please, my love, please stay. But you would not listen, And drifted far away. Now you are goneโ€” Lost beneath the stream. My joy has vanished; Alas, what shall I do? If love could build a bridge of light, Iโ€™d walk across, Iโ€™d hold you tight. But rivers flow, and time wonโ€™t bend, I lost you once, I lose again. Do not cross the river, Please, my love, please stay. But you would not listen, And drifted far away. Now you are goneโ€” Lost beneath the stream. My joy has vanished; Alas, what shall I do? Do not cross the riverโ€ฆ Alas, what shall I do?